Is paying £100 million for a player's 'potential' justified?

Pramsu9779

Let's not delve into Chelsea's issues that we discussed in the first half of the year. The recent matches have once again confirmed two things. Firstly, in the world of football, one plus one doesn't necessarily equal or exceed two. Secondly, Chelsea's three hundred-million-pound players performing poorly in the same game also illustrates the excessive inflation in player values nowadays.

Regarding the first point, I've previously mentioned that football is not a simple arithmetic equation. Spending big money on players and assembling them doesn't always lead to success. Different teams have distinct tactical styles, so even if a superstar is immensely talented, it might not be meaningful if they don't fit the team's tactics or another superstar's style. Eventually, the team establishes a core player for performance, and the other discarded superstar becomes labeled as subpar. One of the most prominent examples is when Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka joined Real Madrid simultaneously. After Ronaldo became the core, Kaka transitioned from being a world footballer to being considered subpar.

The second point is Chelsea's extravagant purchases once again make me feel that player values are excessively inflated nowadays. In the past, a hundred-million-pound player was incredibly dominant, making an immediate impact upon joining the team. People's expectations for such high-value players should be that high. If a team spends a hundred million on you, but you need time to adapt after joining the team, then what's the point of that hundred million? It's better to develop promising but cheaper players ourselves.

However, today's football market is different. The current market more so pays for potential. As long as a player has potential, the seller is ready to attach a hundred-million price tag, irrespective of whether the player is the finished product. Buyers are also willing to pay for the so-called 'potential,' readily forking out a hundred million. But Enzo, Havertz, Muderick, and even my team's Anthony Martial – these players all with over a hundred-million-euro valuation – can they honestly justify their price tag? It's even more baffling that if they only show mediocrity or mistakes, fans say they need time to adapt. When did the criteria for a hundred-million-euro valuation become so lenient? This is why I believe the current football market is distorted. Hundred-million-pound players shouldn't be merely paid for their potential; they should be ready-made contributors. Unfortunately, the market isn't like that anymore.

I won't dwell on this further. Hopefully, the football market can return to rationality soon. Even though this statement is coming from a Manchester United fan, who is accustomed to paying premiums for signings, it does feel a bit ironic.

Nihar991

Some football techniques are still worth taking a closer look at.

Maya173

Unfortunately, nowadays it's all about money first.

Ira1991

This is a market, a consensus issue, there's no should or shouldn't, and there's no rationale to discuss.

Bel2433

The value of a player varies.

Bail003

Perhaps it's best not to jump to conclusions too quickly; let's wait and see how the upcoming matches unfold.